Annual Appeal:
November 19, 2012
Dear Barrington-area Resident:
What if the Barrington Area had no trees? No wetlands? No forest preserves or greenways? It's unthinkable, and it's no accident that an abundance of natural land is protected in perpetuity throughout the greater Barrington area.
Citizens for Conservation (CFC) has been acquiring, protecting, preserving and restoring land and natural resources in the Barrington Area for more than 20 years. With our mission of "Saving Living Sapce for Living Things", CFC has:
- Helped protect over 3,000 acres of natural lands
- Acquired 376 acres of land for our ten preserves on which our volunteers are accomplishing award-winning ecological restoration
- Provided education, guided tours, and tangible opportunities for adults and children to experience the natural world
This summer CFC acquired additional land adjacent to our Flint Creek Savanna, land that had been zoned for development, as well as parcels at River's Bend and Wagner Fen. CFC contributed to a community partnership to buy 12.5 acres for a new preserve owned by Cuba Township and the Village of Tower Lakes. We will continue to seek opportunities to expand our property, and efforts are underway to acquire more undeveloped acreage. Your financial support will help us replenish our land acquisition funds. The year CFC has spent approximately $450,000 to purchase land.
Partnering with School District 220, CFC combined fun outdoor activities with learning about nature for all 4th graders. Youth Education includes monthly classes on topics such as birds of prey, prairies, and creek seining. Our community education includes programs about landscaping with native plants, invasive plant species, and native bees.
CFC's greatest asset is its volunteers. For over 40 years they have contributed many thousands of hours helping CFC fulfill its mission. Ths year our Grigsby Prairie celebrated its 25th year, confirming CFC's volunteer achievement. Our other major strength is the many loyal contibutors who have helped fund land acquisition and restoration.
Please join our efforts to protect and preserve natural resources that make the Barrington area an exceptional place to live by sending us a tax-deductible donation so that we can continue "Saving Living Space for Living Things." A generous donation will help us save and restore natural land and provide cleaner water and a healthy environment for residents and wildlife.
Sincerely,
Peggy Simonsen
President
Thomas Benjamin
Chair, Development Committee